TURNING off streetlights will not affect falling crime rates, according to a Berkhamsted town councilor.
The number of crimes reported to police fell by 7.8 per cent in Berkhamsted but rose by 2.2 per cent in Tring between April 1, 2011, and February 29, 2012.
Crime fell by 9.8 per cent across all of Dacorum in that period.
The figures were released at a meeting of Berkhamsted Town Council on Monday.
Member Ian Reay said: “It is quite extraordinary how much crime has fallen in Herts as a whole. There’s no evidence at all that the lights switch-off has increased crime or reduced safety and if anything the figures point in the other direction.”
Since February, Berkhamsted’s streetlights have been turned off on unobstructed B-roads between midnight and 6am.
The meeting agreed to see if this could be changed in places where there are temporary roadworks.